Vote passed to protect renters from rogue landlords

According to the housing website home.co.uk, the average monthly cost to rent a property in Norwich is £1,470

New measures are to be introduced to help protect private renters in Norwich from so-called rogue landlords.

The city council voted through a motion which included a minimum quality standard for all properties, a dedicated enforcement team and a "clear" reporting system for tenants with safety concerns.

Last year, a BBC investigation found that private renters who complained about dangerous or potentially deadly faults were being let down by councils, which had a legal duty to act.

Opposition groups backed the new measures and urged the council to "work quickly" to implement them.

Alex Catt, deputy leader of the Green Party at City Hall and shadow cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said: "The Green-led motion stands up for renters, committing our Labour-led council to finally use its available powers to protect renters in Norwich from unsafe properties and mistreatment by their landlords."

The motion also included measures such as licensing all landlords and consulting on increasing council tax for second homes in the city.

Acorn Norwich, a renters union in the city, said: "Whilst [the council] deliberate, renters are left paying eye-watering prices for unsuitable housing with no means to report rogue landlords.

"The council needs to act decisively and invest in addressing the housing crisis that is swallowing up the city."

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that private housing rental prices for the East of England rose by 4.5% in the year to March.

The British Landlords Association was approached for comment.

The motion was approved at a full council meeting last month.